Looking for opinions on the importance of "green" vehicles...?

Question

I'm just interested in getting people's opinions on the importance of "green" vehicles. How important (or unimportant) do you think going "green" is?

Answer 1

I think it's important to go this way, but I still want to know what is involved in the battery production for them... how green is it in reality? What is the battery life like? are they recyclable? how green is the process?

Answer 2

I think its extremely important both in the consumption by the vehicle and in the production of the vehicle too.  The only way we will ever get out from under the tyranny of oil producers is to stop guzzling their product.

Answer 3

Going green is essential and inevitable. But don't worry, oil companies have purchased the rights to just about every green design and prototype that's come up in the last 20 years. I'm sure that once the oil runs out (after we've paid top dollar for it) there will be many alternatives available.

Answer 4

I am glad you are interested in this issue.

Going green is hugely important for two reasons: resource depletion and climate change.

The human population has grown enormously and at the same time we have developed more and more ways of using non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels and metals.  These resources are already beginning to run out (oil has doubled in price recently) and the economic and social consequences of doing nothing about this could be horrific.  We need to slow down before hitting the buffers so as to give time to develop the technologies for more sustainable ways of living.

At the same time as we have depleted the earths resources we have unbalanced the atmosphere and have begun a process of climate change.  (Burning the fossil fuels has been particularly damaging because it has released carbon dioxide (CO2) which acts as a greenhouse gas.)  Again this climate change could cause huge social and economic disasters, plus biodiversity problems, unless we slow it down quickly, to buy time.

Private cars are one of the main causes of resource depletion and climate change emissions so looking for green alternatives is important.  Every little helps so smaller cars, greater fuel economy and alternative fuels are all worth considering.  But don't rule out the more radical solutions like walking, pedalling, and using public transport.

I can tell you, from experience, that walking and pedalling will improve your fitness so that you are better able to enjoy other activities such as singing and dancing.  They are also more fun than driving on overcrowded roads.  Public transport also scores well as an alternative to driving so I now only hire a car very occasionally.

I am glad you want to travel in a more sustainable fashion and hope you will appreciate that the greenest car is no car at all.  And don't get me started on air travel!!

Best wishes

Answer 5

Motor vehicles are significant cause of many pollutants (not just CO2).  Moving toward more efficient vehicles is certainly a step in the right direction, but consider other factors:

What is the environmental impact of the manufacturing process?  Subaru claims to have a production line so much greener than Toyota's that an outback will have less environmental impact over its life than a hybrid Prius, even though the latter is more efficient to operate.

What are the costs at the end of a products life cycle?  This is almost universally overlooked, but critically important.  Most steel is recycled, and has been as long as there has been a steel industry.  How easy is it to dismantle the car and get the recycleable components where the neeed to be without cross contamination.  How many toxins or hazaradous, persistent materials are used in the construction and complicate recycling, etc.

It is critically important for vehicles to be "green" but green extends way beond gas mileage.

Here's the green hint of the day.  When thinking about a new car, don't.  It's way greener to put a perfetly good existing car to use than to cause greater demand for new construction, with all its impacts.